|
|
The
views expressed
on this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily
represent the views of County News Online
|
Columbus
Dispatch
Short takes
Dispatch editorials express the view of the Dispatch editorial board,
which is made up of the publisher, the president of The Dispatch, the
editor and the editorial-writing staff. As is the traditional newspaper
practice, the editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the
voice of the newspaper. Comments and questions should be directed to
the editorial page editor.
• EXACTLY HOW Gov. John Kasich will be able to help improve Columbus
City Schools isn’t clear yet, but his enthusiastic buy-in can’t help
but be a boost for Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s plans to strengthen the
school district.
Coleman, a Democrat, was wise to solicit the Republican governor’s
help. Breaking the track record of failure that dogs so many urban
schools requires approaching the problem in new ways, and garnering
support from as wide a base as possible.
Kasich’s backing of an ambitious reform plan for Cleveland Metropolitan
School District, put forth by another Democratic mayor, Frank Jackson,
helped that plan come to life. It required legislation to free the
district from some rules and union-contract provisions, and Jackson and
Kasich together helped win bipartisan support for it.
Coleman and City Council President Andrew J. Ginther are exploring ways
to strengthen the Columbus district. Some ideas could require new laws
or other assistance from the state, so having Kasich on board will be a
plus.
• WITH HOLIDAY shopping in full swing, it’s reassuring for parents and
grandparents to know that toys seem to be getting safer, according to
the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. But it’s always good to be
aware of potential dangers that can lurk in playthings.
The organization recently released its 27th annual survey of toy
safety; the full list can be found at http://bit.ly/Yae1gr.
About a dozen toys were deemed unsafe, some for reasons one might not
even consider: Three are considered noise hazards for testing at higher
decibel levels than those recommended by hearing experts, and one —
Snake Eggs from GreenBrier International — was judged hazardous because
its powerful magnets can cause serious internal injuries if swallowed…
Read the rest of the article at the Columbus Dispatch
|
|
|
|
